Mini Cooper Countryman owners have reported 3 wheel related problems since 1996. Table 1 shows the 1 most common wheel problems. The number one most common problem is related to the vehicle's wheel (3 problems). For details of each of the problem category, use the links in the table.
| Problem Category | Number of Problems |
|---|---|
| Wheel problems |
Our 2012 Mini Cooper Countryman was parked in parking garage. Within minutes of shutting it off the engine caught on fire which spread quickly. The car was completely destroyed. Other cars next to it were affected and the floor of the parking garage was closed due to damages. This is very serious and dangerous.
At a warranty service for an exterior trim item, the Mini tech went to verify my mileage and also examined my run-flat tires in detail (goodyear 225/45 r18 efficient grip). He advised that two tires had defective sidewalls and said they needed to be replaced. He even recommended a different brand. The tires were under warranty and I really had no choice but to have them replaced under warranty terms. Because it was an awd vehicle, I chose also to have all four replaced. 4000 miles later, I noticed a sidewall bulge on one of my front tires. I complained to Mini that the tires they were providing were defective and had I thought more about the Mini tech's actions in the beginning, I would have suspected that Mini was aware of the problem at the outset. Mini USA response was as expected, giving me a lecture on what causes a tire to wear and fail etc. , and advised the problem was between me and goodyear. I told them that their response was not adequate and I would file a complaint with the consumer protection agency, which I did. My situation concerns me. I noticed on-line that there were numerous complaints about run-flat technology and wonder if this is a faulty conclusion that the weight saved by eliminating spare tires, jacks, etc justifies the gas consumption objectives. I am not surprised how "stand-off-ish" the tire dealer and Mini are, simply because this is a serious safety issue to boot.
Mini national and the dealership says that a lug wrench is not included in cars mounted with run-flat tires. That puts the owner at the mercy of Mini's road-side assistance, which depends on cellular service. If the owner can't connect with roadside assistance, there is no way to remove tires to take for repair or replacement. This is a potential safety issue.